Rosa Hybrida shrub named ‘AUSlofty’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSlofty’ is disclosed. The ‘AUSlofty’ rose is a plant suitable for repeat flowering production having medium apricot blooms, a strong tea fragrance and a vigorous upright growth.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

Variety denomination:

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSlofty’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant named ‘AUSlofty’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed, unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a very healthy repeat flowering variety having apricot blooms with a strong fragrance and vigorous upright growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from other presently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventor is the following combination of characteristics: apricot blooms with a strong fragrance and vigorous upright growth.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in greenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘AUSlofty’ may be asexually propagated by budding and grafting. The budding and grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States and on the plant/rootstock Rosa dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ in the United Kingdom.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics: whereas the parent has pink blooms, ‘AUSlofty’ bears flowers of apricot and a strong tea fragrance. The new variety is classified as a hybrida rose with a broad growing habit.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parent bears small yellow blooms, ‘AUSlofty’ bears medium size flowers of apricot.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the ‘AUSwinter’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,484). The new rose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSwinter’ variety by the following combination of characteristics: the ‘AUSwinter’ has more petals, and a stronger anthocyanin color on the new growth compared to ‘AUSlofty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of the character. Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 2 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of September. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant             during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many             to count.         -   Bud.—Size: About 1.9 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the             petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is pointed ovoid.             Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color is Orange             Group 28A. When half blown, the upper sides of the petals             are Orange Group 25B, and the lower sides of the petals are             Yellow-Orange Group 21B. Calyx: Shape: funnel-shaped.             Sepals: Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper Surface:             Greyed-Green Group 193B. Lower Surface: Yellow-Green Group             144A. Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape: Subulate. Surface             texture: Upper Surface: Pubescent. Lower Surface: Smooth.             Number: There are three lightly appendaged sepals. There are             3 unappendaged sepals. Apex: The typical and observe sepal             apex has medium extensions. Margin: The typical and observe             unappendaged sepals have glandular edges.         -   Receptacles.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Shape: Funnel.             Size: small, about 0.8 cm×0.7 cm. Surface: Smooth.         -   Peduncle.—Length: medium, averaging about 6 cm. Diameter:             The typical and observed diameter is about 3 mm. Surface:             Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A overlaid with strong             concentration of Greyed-Purple Group 184A. Strength: Normal.         -   Blooms.—Size: Medium, average open diameter is about 9 cm.             Borne: In clusters of 5-7 blooms having corymb shaped             inflorescence. Stems: Strength: Normal, average length is             about 75 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Form: When first open, bloom is             cupped. Permanence of bloom: Outer petals curl back.         -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 90.             Color: The upper sides of the petals are Orange Group 24A.             The reverse sides of the petals are Yellow-Orange Group 23D.             The base of the petals is Yellow-Orange Group 22B.             Discoloration: The general tonality at the end of the first             day is: Orange Group 24A. At the end of the third day is:             Yellow-Orange Group 22C. Fragrance: Strong. Character of             fragrance: Tea.         -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth. Size: Width: 2.7 cm. Length: 4 cm.             Surface: Smooth. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Notched, to varying             degrees. Apex Shape: Emarginate. Base Shape: Obtuse. Form:             Slightly incurved. Arrangement: Quartered. Petaloids:             Number: None. Persistence: Petals hang on and dry.             Lastingness: On the plant: fair, about 5-6 days. As a cut             flower: about 3-4 days.         -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 13. Length: 6.5 mm.             Anthers: Length: 1.5 mm. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 17C.             Arrangement: Regular around styles. Filaments: Color: Yellow             Group 13B. Length: 10 mm. Pollen: Color: Yellow-Orange Group             17C. Pistils: Number: 20 -25. Length: 9.5-10 mm. Styles:             Color: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Length: 9 mm. Stigmas: Color:             Yellow-Orange Group 22A. Length: 0.5-1 mm. Hips: None             Observed. -   Plant characteristics:     -   -   Plant form.—Shrub.         -   Plant growth.—Vigorous and upright.         -   Age to maturity.—Two years.         -   Mature plant:—Height: 1.5 m. Width:1 m.         -   Rootstock.—Rosa ‘Dr. Huey’ for U.S. and Rosa dumetorum cv.             ‘Laxa’ for observed plants in the U.K.         -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5 -7             [including terminal leaflet]. Size: Medium, about 15 cm             long×9 cm wide. Quantity: Normal. Number of leaves per             flowering stem is: 14. Color: New foliage: Upper side:             Yellow-Green Group 146B, overlaid with Greyed-Red Group             181B. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Old foliage:             Upper side: Green Group N134A. Lower side: Green Group 137C.             Leaflets Size: About 5 cm long×3 cm wide. Shape: Oval. Base             Shape: Obtuse. Apex Shape: Acuminate. Texture: Wrinkled.             Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single. Petiote: Color: Green             Group 137B with some patches of Greyed-Red Group 181A.             Length: 3 cm. Width: 2 mm. Surface Texture: Prickly. Petiole             Rachis: Color: Green Group 138A with some patched of             Greyed-Red Group 181A. Underside: with prickles. Stipules:             Length: 2.2 cm, glandular. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.             Auricle: Shape: Awl-shaped. Length: 3 mm. Width: 1.5 mm at             base tapering to point. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Vein             Color: Green Group 137C. Venation Pattern: Reticulate.         -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Bark:             Smooth. Old Wood: Color: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Bark:             Smooth.         -   Branching habit.—Number: 8 per main stem. Lateral Branch             Dimensions: Length: 30 cm. Diameter: 3 mm.         -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 90 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Internode             Distance: 10 cm. The above measurements are all variable,             depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem Pubescence             Present: No. Color: Green Group 146B.         -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: few. Number per             stem length: 5 per 10 cm. On laterals from main canes: few.             Number per stem length: 3 per 10 cm. Form: Hooked downward.             Length: 10 mm. Color when young: Red-Purple Group 60A. Color             when mature: Greyed-Orange Group 177A.         -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: None. Laterals: None.         -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant to Powdery Mildew and             Downy Mildew. Blackspot: Resistant. Rust: Resistant.         -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.         -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.         -   Growing conditions.—Normal for a garden rose, namely,             outdoors in soil. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitable for repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown and described. 